CCA Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries recently completed a new artificial reef in the northern portion of Lake Pontchartrain.

To view photos from a December reef site visit, click here.

The reef – named the “Dudley and Kim Vandenborre Reef” and located in St. Tammany Parish –  honors the man who approached CCA Louisiana with the idea to use the material from the damaged Twin Spans to build artificial reefs in Lake Pontchartrain.

The I-10 Twin Span bridges were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The 4-acre reef, located in Lake Pontchartrain at permitted sites between the Interstate 10 and La. 11 bridges, will create an ideal habitat for all sorts of marine species, including speckled trout, redfish, drum and flounder.

“We expect this reef will begin supporting marine life shortly after its deployment,” said CCA Louisiana Habitat Chairman John Walther. “Other CCA reefs across the coast have produced catches in a matter of months. It’s probable that Lake Pontchartrain anglers will begin catching big trout and redfish from this reef this spring.”

“Being able to repurpose the material from the deconstructed Twin Spans to make this artificial reef is a win for recreational fishermen and Louisiana citizens alike,” said LDWF Assistant Secretary Randy Pausina. “Without our state partners, especially CCA Louisiana, this project would not have been possible.  Louisiana truly is the Sportsman’s Paradise and we have created yet another opportunity to showcase our abundant natural resources.” 

“Dudley’s Reef” is phase two of the three-phase CCA reef plan for Lake Pontchartrain. Phase one – the “South Shore Reef” – was completed earlier this year. Phase three will be a reef system built around the soon-to-be completed St. Tammany Fishing Pier.  

“The plan by CCA and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to build recycled concrete reefs in Lake Pontchartrain is the first of its kind in Louisiana,” said Gov. Bobby Jindal. “This is a win-win situation for the residents of Louisiana. We are creating an ideal marine habitat and we are also saving money by using material which would otherwise be discarded.”

“Dudley’s Reef” was built by NASDI LLC. All of the Lake Pontchartrain projects are made possible through a partnership between Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana, LDWF Artificial Reef Program, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.